Wimbledon.com caught up with nine-time singles champion Martina Navratilova and four-time Grand Slam winner Kim Clijsters, who recently defended their Roland Garros Legends crown.
Both Clijsters and Navratilova remember their first tennis memories as watching Wimbledon on TV.
Amazingly, Navratilova had never even seen a grass court until a week before her first appearance at SW19 in 1973 but eventually amassed 20 titles on the hallowed turf at Wimbledon across singles and doubles.
Earliest Wimbledon memory...
CLIJSTERS: For sure on the TV, watching Steffi Graf play. In Belgium it’s in the summer holidays and I remember watching her play Monica Seles. My sister and I would try and copy them on our driveway. It was amazing, I got to play against Steffi in her last Wimbledon and that was a dream come true for me. I lost but I don’t remember much from the match because I was so in awe. It was a beautiful experience that I was able to do that.
First visit to The Championships...
NAVRATILOVA: Turning up in 73, my first one, playing for the first time as a junior and in the main draw. I remember I won a couple of rounds, I got to the final of the juniors, quarter-finals of the mixed doubles. I was alongside Jan Kodes, who won the whole thing in singles, that was just an amazing treat for me and something I’ll never forget. I sat in on every match of Kodes’, when I wasn’t playing I was always on Centre Court or Court One watching tennis until it got dark. I was so nervous for Jan but it was special to share that with him.
Andre Agassi came forward and hit this huge forehand and I had no time to move. He hit me so hard
CLIJSTERS: Yes, I was a teenager, playing in the Juniors, I was with my Dad and my coach. I still remember the first time I walked into the grounds noticing the littlest things like the flowers, everything was so well manicured, so pretty and the people in the suits, it was stunning. I always compare it to when I first went to Disneyland, you walk in and you say ‘Wow!’ and I had the same feeling at Wimbledon. All the other Grand Slams have a similar feeling too. But at the US Open you see the big stadiums and everything is huge whereas at Wimbledon it’s the overall atmosphere, the tradition, you feel it which I really like.
Wimbledon in three words...
CLIJSTERS: Peaceful, tradition and green.
NAVRATILOVA: History, tradition and drama.
Superstitions on court...
CLIJSTERS: I had different superstitions in the different places that I would go. At Wimbledon it would be the same shower, the same locker room. I’d always eat the same type of food, at the same restaurant, just to stick into a routine. On court you’d have the little things, for example for my rackets the grips had to be put on in a certain way, they’d be in my bag in a certain order, I tried not to step on the lines, I'd fold my towel in a certain way. Actually that’s a lot! Players get crazy some time – we go into our own world.
Wimbledon is like a drug. Once you win it for the first time you feel you've got to do it again
Missing Wimbledon...
NAVRATILOVA: Wimbledon is like a drug. Once you win it for the first time you feel you've just got to do it again. However, it’s a long time since I was properly on Centre Court but I’m glad I’m still connected to a sport that has given me a great life with the commentary. I feel like I’m giving back, not by playing but by talking about it and sharing my knowledge of tennis and my love for the sport.
Funniest moment at Wimbledon...
CLIJSTERS: When I played during the unveiling of the Centre Court roof at Wimbledon, Andre Agassi came forward and hit this huge forehand and I had no time to move. He hit me so hard. I had the biggest bruise right on my stomach for weeks.
Proudest tennis memory...
CLIJSTERS: My first Grand Slam was special but I also have the memory of winning my first ever tournament, where I beat a few top 10 players. To me that was inspiring. To me that had a bigger impact. Winning the US Open after a tough year, with my Dad passing away and having my first child, that was the biggest impact emotionally.
What’s happened to the trophies....
NAVRATILOVA: They are all in the Hall of Fame actually. I haven’t picked them up since I got inducted in 2000. I’ve moved so many times I’ve let them keep them but I’m building a house in Miami so once that’s done I'll take them home.
